September 21, 1921: Approximately 4,500 tons of a mixture of ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate fertilizer stored in a tower silo exploded at a BASF plate in Oppau, now part of Ludwigshafen, Germany, killing about 560 people and injuring about 2,000 more.
The plant began producing ammonium sulfate in 1911, but during World War I, when Germany was unable to obtain the necessary sulfur, it began to produce ammonium nitrate as well. Ammonia could be produced without overseas resources.
The explosions were heard as two loud bangs in northeastern France and in Munich, more than 235 miles away, and are estimated to have contained an energy equivalent to 1 to 2 kilotons of TNT. For perspective: The Black Tom Explosion in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1916 was about 2 kilotons; the Morgan Explosion in Sayreville, New Jersey in 1918 was about 6 kilotons; and the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945 was had the force of about 15 kilotons.
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September 21, 1921 was a Wednesday. Baseball executive John McHale was born.
These baseball games were played:
* The New York Giants beat the Chicago Cubs, 9-7 at Cubs Park (now Wrigley Field) in Chicago. Ross Youngs went 3-for-5 with an RBI. George "High Pockets" Kelly and George Burns each went 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs.
* The Brooklyn Robins (as the Dodgers were known from 1914 to 1931, when Wilbert Robinson managed them) beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2-0 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The game was called after 7 innings due to rain.
* The Cleveland Indians beat the Boston Red Sox, 5-1 at Fenway Park in Boston. Tris Speaker, the Indians' center fielder and manager, did not play.
* The Washington Senators swept a doubleheader from the Chicago White Sox, 3-2 and 4-3 at Griffith Stadium in Washington. Walter Johnson did not pitch in either game.
* The Boston Braves beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-6 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis.
* The New York Yankees and the St. Louis Browns were supposed to play at the Polo Grounds on this day, but, after looking at weather reports, by mutual agreement, they moved the game back to an off-day, September 16. The Browns won, 10-3. George Sisler went 2-for-4 with a grand slam, and William "Baby Doll" Jacobson went 3-for-5 with 4 RBIs. Once-and-future Yankee Urban Shocker outpitched Bob Shawkey. Babe Ruth hit his 56th home run of the season. He would finish with 59.
* The Philadelphia Athletics and the Detroit Tigers saw the same weather reports, and moved their September 21 game at Shibe Park in Philadelphia back to September 16 as well. The Tigers won, 7-3. Ty Cobb went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and 2 RBIs.
* The Philadelphia Phillies and the Cincinnati Reds were supposed to play at Redland Field (later renamed Crosley Field) in Cincinnati on September 21, and ignored the weather reports, and got rained out. The game was made up the next day. The Reds won, 5-4.
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